Switching device



`may s, 1924. 1,492,686

, E. F. HAMILL SWITCHING DEVICE Filed May 22 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 aware/mmv? May e, 1924. y 1,492,686

E. F. HAMILL swTCHING DEVICE Filed May 22. l9l9 4 SheetsSheet 2 'May 6,1924, y n y l 1,492,686

E. F. HAMILL SWITCHING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1919 4-SheetsSheet 5 May 6., 1924. l W 1,492,686

E. F. HAMILL SWITCHING DEVICE Filed May 22. 1919 4 sheets-sheet 4 ZgZ/ di L L L I Qs! d? d@ J7 f f, l'

- @ye/75? Mam/fa?? Patented May 6, 1924.

y I UNITED gSTATES `PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. n

- f PANY, or CHICAGQILLINOIS,

HAMILL, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T THE CHICAGO SIGNAL COM- A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

f yswrrcmn'e DEVICE.

Applicationy med nay 22,

F. Hmm.,

' signals are to be sent.` One of the features otF my invention is the provision of a portable or removable signal controllin mechanism and enclosure adapted for lnsertion and removal from awall. socket so that this portion of the device may bemoved from room to room, thereby rrequiring fewer de vices than where eachroom'is so equipped. Another feature of my invention'is an improved contact controlling means whereby the contact operating slide is set bya push buttonand then releasedby the operation of a push button controlled 'electro-magnet. Another feature of my invention is the provision of visible indicating means in the form of a small lam `7adapted to show the actuation of the device forfurther signaling. There are other features ofmy invention which will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing specification and claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings: n f I |`Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention;

Filg. 2 is a wall receptacle or terminal bloc t; Fig. 3 is a view of the mechanism mounting showing the terminals on the rear side thereof adapted for insertion in the wall block terminals; K

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section through the center of thedevice as shown along the line 4-4 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 5 is an interior view showing vthe contact slide and cooperating contacts;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view along the line of'6-6 of Fig. 7, showing the construction of the push button cord terminal or binding post;

Fig. 7 isa front view of the device with 1919. Serlll No. 299,058.

the cap and part of the framework cut awa Flg. 8 is a sectional View along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspectivewiew of the slide operating push button and'its cooperating electro-ma net;

Fig. 10 1s a partial sectional view of the mechanism mounting and one of the terminal plugs carried thereby; and

F10. 11` is a circuit diagram showing the switclh mechanism connected in the controlliner circuit.

leferring first in a general .way to the opera-tion and use of the switch mechanism in connection with a lamp signal system for hospitals the device may be placed Ain one of the'rooms with the push button at the end ofthe cord in reach of the patient. In order tocall an attendant the calling push button is operated thereby closing a circuit for a latch controlling magnet which releases the contact operating slideto close circuits so as to operate a local signal lamp inside the switch mechanism and one or more lights at distant points in order to call the nurse or other attendant. lVhen the call is responded to, the signalmay be eil'aced by pushing the small push button on to'p of the switch device to reset the contact operating mechanism and etl'ace the local signal lamp in the device to show that it has been reset for further actuation, and efface the distant signals.

Referring now more particularly to the detailed construction of the mechanism, I

rovide a base referably made of insuatn material an in which suitablel terminal p ugs 16, 17, 18, 19A and 20 are embedded these terminals being split so as to yieldingly engage correspondin receptacles 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 in the wal terminal mounting block`26. This wall block 26 is provided with suitable ears 27, 28 so that it may be at-` tached to usual Wall box and then covered with a wall plate 29. The wall terminals 21 to are rovided with suitable connectors to which t e circuit conductors may be con-4 nected.

Now as to the 'portable or removable por- Y tion of the switch mechanism, this is carried by the base 15 and includes a contact operating element in the form of a slide 30 at# tached to the baseby a. screw 31 and signal plug nut 32 which is threaded upon the central terminal plug 19. By means of this connection at the nut 32, slide 30 is in electrical connection with thev post 19. This contact operating slide 30 and its cooperating contacts 33, 34, and 36 is shown in its actuated or signal sendingposition in Fig. 5, the same mechanism being diagrammatically illustrated in its normal or non-signal sending position in Fig. 11. Contact 33 is electrically connect-ed with the terminal plug 16 and contact 34 is electrically connected with the terminal plug 17. Terminal plug 20 is wired to a stud 37, which is embedded in base 15 and electrically connected to the push button cord terminal 38 as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. A similar cord terminal 39 is provided at the o posite side of the downwardly projecting liig 15Il on the base 15 so as to take the other cord conductor. This terminal binding post 39 is connected to a. corresponding stud 40 which is connected to one terminal of the contact slide controlling magnet 41, while the other terminal of this magnet is connected to the contact 35, which is normally' in electrical connection with the slide 30. A push button 42 and two conductor cord 43 are connected across the binding posts 38, 39, leading to the terminal studs 37, 40 so that the operation of push button 42 will close the circuit through release magnet 41 to permit actuation of the contact operating slide 30.

In order to control the contact operating slide 30 I preferably connect it to a sliding shaft 45 by means of alaterallyv extending stud 46 which is staked in the shaft 45 and has a reduce-d end projecting loosely7 into the opening 47 of the slide 30. A spring 48 encircles the lower end of the shaft 45 tend; ing to press this shaft upwardly so as to effeet a signal sending operation thereof when the armature 49 carried by the electro-magnet 41 withdraws the latch 50 from the shouldered stop 51 on the shaft 45. Such operation of the shaft 45 also moves the con.- tact operating slide 39 to its signal sending position as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. This slide 30 it will be noted has cut away portions along its two side edges positioned so as to make and break with the various contacts according to the position of the slide. The slide controlling shaft 45 carries an actuating button 52 at its upper end for the purpose of resetting the mechanism after it has been actuated and the attendant has responded to the call.

As previously pointed out, when the ush button 42 is operated to extend a cal the mechanism in the switch is operated by means of the magnet 41. This switch mech'- anism is preferably manually reset and in order to indicate the condition of the switch mechanism I provide a signal in the form ot a small lamp 53 which is carried in a lamp jack including contact springs 54, 55, jack springs 54 being in electrical contact with the slide controlled contact 3G, while the other jack spring 55 is in electrical contact with the terminal screw 56, which is electrically connected hy means of al conductor 57 with the cord terminal stud 37. Thus when the contact slide 30 is in its normal or inoperative position the signal lamp 53 is ett'aced, but when the slide has been moved to its alternative position when the cord push button 42 is operated the lamp' 53 is caused to glow. A resetting of the mechanism by means of the resetting button 52 ettaces the signal 53 so as to indicate that the switch device is ready for another call.

In order to suitably protect the switch device, I provide a casing 59 adapted to be secured to the switch frame by means of two small screws 60. In the face of this casing or cap 59, I provide a small bulls-eye 61 through which the light from the signal lamp 53 may be seen; this bulls-eye being of a suitable transparent material, preferably of glass. Although the calling device is shown in connection with a particular call or signal system, it is to be understood that it is not limited to use with any particular circuit. 4lxtra terminals may also be readily supplied, such as the terminal plu receptacles 23 which are not use in the particu ar circuit illustrated.

In Fig. 11, I have shown diagrammatically a signal system in which the switching device is connected. The parts being numbered to correspond with the reference characters of the switch as already described. In the installation of the device wall sockets such as are shown in Fig. 2 are installed in the various rooms current from a main source 63, 64, being connected to the terminals 24, 25, and thus to the terminal plugs 19, 20. At a distant room, such as the nurses or other attendants quarters an annunciator is installed having suitable signals preferably in the form of lamps 65, each one of which is individual to a particular room or calling station. Each signal 65 is connected by means of a conductor 6G to the wall terminal 21 and thus to the switch plug 16. Thus when the contact. slide 30 is actuated, contacts 30. 33 are closed to establish a circuit for the signal 65 from the negative conductor 63 of the battery through the lamp (l5, contacts 33, 30 land conductor 6T to the positive conductor. This closing of contacts 30, 33 also establishes a circuit t'or the room door light 68, which may he placed outside of each room so as to indicate that a call has been made therefrom. A pilot. light 69 is also provided and may be placed at the supervisors desk or other point, this light being connected in circuit over the common pilot wire 70 each time a call is made from any of the switchleo llO

ing devices. This pilot light 69 thus remains actuated so long as there is an unanswered call in any room. The annunciator is also preferably provided with a pilot signal 71 which is operated from the coinmon pilot wire so as to indicate that a call has been made. `This is particularly useful should any of the individual call signals be out of order and fail to operate.

As to the circuit for supervisors pilot light 69 and the circuit for annunciator pilot signal 71, these may be readily traced. As to lamp 69 this is lighted when the contact 34 and slide 30 are closed, the circuit being traced from power conductor 63, through lamp 6T), common pilot conductor 70, contact 34, slide 30 and conductor 67 to the other ower conductor which is numbered 64. he circuit for annunciator pilot lamp 71 is also closed when the contact 34 and slide 30 are connected, the circuit for pilot 71 being traced from power conductor 63, through the second vertically extending conductor from the left, lamp 71, conductor 70, contact 34, slide 30, and conductor 67 to the other power conductor.

Referrin now to the operatlon of .the system as s own in Fig. 1l should a patient A or other party in any room desire to call a nurse, attendant or otherparty according to the use of the system, cord push button 42 is operated to establish a circuit for magnet 41 which attracts its armature and permits the operation of contact slide 30 by the spring 48. A circuit is thus closed for the local indicating lamp 53 by means of contacts 30, 36. The operation of the slide 30 automatically interru ts the circuit for magnet 41 so that alt ou dh the push button 42 be maintained closet current does not continue to ow through magnet 41, thereby reducing the current consumption to a minimum. The operation of the contact slide 30 also closes a circuit for the corresponding call signal 65 by means of contact 33, this also lighting the room door light 68 which may be laced immediately outside the room, as in tie corridor, so that an attendant knows that a call has been transmitted from that station. The supervisors pilot lamp 69 is also operated over the common pilot wire 7 0 by the closing of switch contact 34.

Vhen the attendant answers the call the reset button 52 is immediately operated so as to notify the su ervisor and others that that particular call ias been answered. The operation of this button 52 resets the slide 30 so as to lock beneath the socket latch, also interru ting the circuits for the various signals. T e calling device is now ready for extending another call.

I claim:

1. In a device for operating.. a plurality of signal circuits, a base, a single elongated metallic contact plate longitudinally slidably carried on said base, sad plate having a plurality of cut away portions in each of the side edges thereof, a pair of said cut away portions being transversely aligned and the others being out of alignment, transversely aligned signal circuit contacts carried by the base extendin(T transversely of said-plate, a spring pressed latch for holding said contact plate with the transversely aligned cut away portions thereof aligned with said transversely aligned contacts, spring means for urging said plate toward a position with said last mentioned contacts and cut away portions out of alignment to close said signal circuits, and electromagnetic means for releasing said latch to close said signal circuits.

2. In a device for operating a plurality of signal circuits, a base, a single elongated metallic contact late longitudinally slidably carried on said base, said plate having a. plurality of cut away portions in each of the side edges thereof, a pair of said cut away portions being transversely aligned and the others being out of'alignment, transversely aligned signal circuit contacts carried by the base extending transversely of said plate, a spring pressed latch for holding said contact plate with the transversely aligned cut away portions thereof aligned with said transversely aligned contacts, spring means for urging said plate toward a position with said last mentioned contacts and cut away portions out of alignment to close said signal circuit, and electromagnetic means for releasing said latch to close said signal circuits, one of said cut away portions being arranged relative to one of said contacts so that the circuit of said electromagnetic means is interrupted when said plate is moved to position to close the signal circuits.

3. In a signalling device of the character described, a plurality of signal controlling contacts, a movable contact member, spring means urging said movable contact member into osition to engage said contacts, a latch for iolding said contact member against movement due to the action of said spring means, an electromagnet for actuating said latch to release said movable contact member, a contact independent of said signal controlling contacts for controlling said electromagnet, said movable contact inember normally engaging said magnet controlling contact but being out of engagement therewith when moved to signal Contact engaging position, and a visible signal controlled by one of said signal controlling contacts to indicate the position of said movable contact member.

4. In a signalling device of the character described, a base, an elongated contact making slide of conducting material carried on said base having a plurality of cut away lli) -portions in each of the side edges thereof, a

pair of said cut away portions being in transverse alignment and the others being out of transverse alignment, and transversely aligned pairs of contacts carried by t-he base extending transversely of said slide and adapted to make and break connection with the slide adjacent the side edges thereof.

5. In a signaling device of the character described, a base. an elongated contact making slide of conductin material carried on said base having a p urality of cut away portions in each of the side edges thereof, a pair ot' said cut away portions being in transverse alignment and the others being EDWARD F. HAMILL. 

